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“Yes.” She tried to ignore the embarrassed flush she could feel rising on her cheeks. She was sure he hadn’t forgotten them after their antics the first time they’d been introduced. “The ones you met the other day.”
Thankfully, he didn’t tease her about their spying again and seemed content to turn the topic to less humiliating subjects. “What kind of work do you do there anyway?”
“Nothing interesting.” He clearly wasn’t the type to find an office job tolerable and she forced a smile when he glanced curiously in her direction. “Just working with numbers all day.”
“I think you’d be surprised what I find interesting about you.”
“Hmmm.” She was sure she should have said something, really anything would have been sufficient, but her cheeks warmed again when he stole another meaningful glance in her direction. Even with just a passing gaze of his eyes, he managed to convey a wealth of passion and intention.
It left her frozen, heart pounding and mind unusually muddled, until they finally pulled off the road and into a crowded parking lot.
“Wait there,” he told her, putting the car in park and pocketing the keys before getting out and walking around the front to open her door for her.
She laughed, startled and oddly charmed. “Do people still do that?”
“Maybe.” His grin was infectious. “I mean, someone has to, right?”
“Right.” The nervous smile he’d given her stayed on her face as she let him take her hand and lead her toward the building.
The pizzeria wasn’t one she was familiar with, and she glanced around curiously after Ethan opened the door for her and they stepped inside. Low music was playing and patrons were chattering at the small tables. It seemed like the kind of place that had been there for a while—the chairs looked worn and there was wood paneling on the walls that made the decor look dated— but the smell of pizza sauce and spicy pepperoni made her mouth water.
Some of the people at the tables nearest the door quieted when they caught sight of them standing at the entrance. Eloise frowned, puzzled, but the hostess bustled over before she could mention the strange reaction to Ethan.
“And there’s my boy,” she said, rapping Ethan on the arm with a menu. She was several inches shorter than Eloise and stocky. There was still some black in her white hair and her round cheeks were pink with pleasure. “What brings you in tonight?’
“Paula,” Ethan said, turning that grin on her while Eloise struggled against a sudden and uncomfortable surge of envy. “I need to charm my date with pizza, and for pizza?—”
“For pizza you always come to Paula! Good pizza, anyway!” The other woman—Paula, it seemed—finished her declaration with a short, loud laugh and turned to Eloise with a bright smile. “I’ll take good care of you.”
“Thank you,” Eloise said but she leaned close to Ethan as they followed Paula to their table. “This isn’t a date, remember?”
“Do you want to tell that to Paula?” he whispered back. “You saw how excited she got when we came in. If I told her you weren’t my date, she’d spend all night trying to convince you to date me.”
“How do you know her anyway?” Eloise knew she sounded peevish and that it was beyond ridiculous to be jealous of a woman that was probably twice her age—especially when this was most certainly not a date—but she couldn’t quite swallow down the odd feeling after he’d smiled so warmly at their hostess.
“Dylan owns a bar nearby and I happen to work there,” Ethan said. He didn’t elaborate and for once he was oblivious to the undercurrents in Eloise’s tone. “Drinks at his place are decent but the food is shit and I like pizza, so I escape this way as often as I can.”
It was odd to think of Ethan having a job—she suspected he used the phrase work there pretty loosely— but it was even more odd to think of Dylan doing anything as respectable as owning a business, even if it was a bar. Eloise mulled it over as Paula got them settled at a table for two in a quiet corner and handed them their menus.
“Drinks?” Paula asked.
“Um,” Eloise mumbled, flipping to the back and searching for the right section.
“Wine?” Ethan asked.
“You’re driving,” she reminded him.
“Of course,” he said, exchanging a look with Paula that she couldn’t decipher. “Glass of wine for you and for me…” He trailed off, eyes scanning the menu.
“Lemonade for you,” Paula declared. “Freshly squeezed and non-alcoholic. White wine or red for the lady?”
“White,” Ethan said. “Red is better for pizza but the lady has a preference for sweet and bubbly white wine.”
“You remembered,” Eloise said when Paula had left to get their drinks, impressed despite herself.
“You’re worth remembering.” His voice was husky and full of meaning and his eyes were hot.
Eloise ripped her gaze away, feeling stripped and laid bare under his stare in a way she hadn’t been prepared for. She needed a distraction and turned her attention to the red, plastic menu. It listed offerings of pizza and salad and calzones. “So, you eat here often?”
